Launched in 2009 with a catwalk presentation at On-Off for London Fashion Week, following on with a Catwalk show with On-Off in 2010, Rachel Freire recently presented her Autumn/Winter 2010/11 collection with a presentation at London Fashion Week with Vauxhall Fashion Scout and is touted as one of London’s “most exciting new talents” .

Established in 2008, Rachel Freire made her move from the eclectic world of stage and film, into wearable conceptual couture. Freire graduated from Central Saint Martins (for her sins) with a BA in Design for Performance, and looking at the standard of her work, it's hard to believe that she has never studied fashion.

Featuring complex corsetry, militaristic boleros, intricate lacing and meticulously hand woven appendages to the neck, arms and extremities, this collection draws its influence from Rachel’s costume design background. Her fascination with futuristic imagery inspired by other worldly themes, explores the relationship between the organic and the apocalyptic.

Friere's clothes have graced the likes of Courtney Love, Christina Aguilera, Beth Ditto, Little Boots, Saint Saviour and many of London's prestigious performance artists as well as a gaggle of pop tarts who shall remain anonymous.

Founded in 2009 in the deep south of Germany, GARLAND COO was born as a brand new creative collaboration between designer Jasmin Isabel Eckerle and artist Marcel Singer. With roots deeply anchored in their southern Germanic culture - the Black Forest - this native landscape acts as a deep source of inspiration to the pair.

Fiercely independent and rebellious, Jasmin Isabel Eckerle approaches her craft with the 'strongest passion and conceives shapes and structures to clothe the human body. Slim cut silhouettes and refined detailing are anchors with both fashionable pragmatism and poetry.' Marcel Singer has a design and communication company - Singer and Partner, as well as a multi faceted artist. He's an illustrator and produces paintings, drawings, prints and multimedia. Singer also participates in several group exhibitions, art and music projects. His instinctive approach to art is fused with European and American underground culture, and his observations on fashion, beauty and life.

The philosophy behind Garland Coo is simple: their aesthetic beliefs both refuse to be 'categorized or assimilated by the establishment.' Both Eckerle and Singer express and rise the tension between the polarities which exist between fashion and art, and the so-called "Heimat".

This collection is described as an analogy of the cutural and natural heritage of both designers. It borders on couture embellishments with sharp tailoring, slim cut silhouettes and refine detailing using the finest materials. The collection encapsulates the contrast between the traditional and avant garde; the Black Forest pompoms; floating hand-dyed silks; between bondage schemes and clear defined folds; hand prints and hand finished fabrics.

"Fashion collides with nature schemes and the rotten appearance of a cultural landscape. The first collection is pure womenswear, an accessories and a limited menswear will follow.' - Garland Coo

Selected individual items and accessories are exclusively available in the store of Butterflysoulfire, starting with Berlin Fashion Week 2010 spring summer.

Formally known as Listitcafe.com, YumYumVintage.com [based in the United States, just a few minutes outsideNYC] will launch their brand new site at the end of July,by 'Bringing Art and Vintage Together in a New Website'. Owner and operator, Christine Anderson will celebrate this exciting launch with a series of photo shoots using vintage clothing and handmade items that will be sold at YumYumVintage.com.

"The Fashion Birdcage is allowing us to feature a selection of photographs taken during the past year, the rest of the series will be available for viewing at YumYumVintage.com along with an awesome collection of Vintage Clothing available for purchase. We hope that the photographs will inspire you to see the clothing in a way you never thought possible. YumYum should be officially online within the month."

"The Into the Woods Photographs are a series of fashion portraits focusing on vintage hats from the 1930’s to the 1950’s. We wanted to shoot them in a interesting manor so people can see the beauty of the hats and be inspired to use them in their current wardrobe."

"These photos were shot to catch the drama of vintage clothing. The 1940’s hand painted peach evening dress is romantic and dreamy - while the 1940’s suit paired with a vintage t-shirt is dramatic as well as whimsical and wearable."

If you wish to be informed when YumYum is officially opened send your e-mail address to: dareuc@optonline.net.

It's called the "Say Cheese Camera Bag" and it can hold your phone, camera, and make-up, and is made of durable American made Naugahyde and has a tough nylon lining. Just add a strap and it converts to a wristlet.

It comes from a selection of made-to-order products proudly handmade by QUEENBEE55.

"My passion for sewing has finally met up withan appreciative audience ... I am happiest when I am making things.To make things for people whoappreciate handmade is just heaven."

Alex Prager's work weaves a nostalgic thread with her most recent exhibition, "Week-end".

The women are young and highly stylized with a touch of Hitchcock and perhaps even Cindy Sherman.

Based in LA, this artist portrays women in a cinematic air and tinged with some sort of impending disaster. Her aesthetic is reminiscent of 1970s disaster movies, with full wigs and exaggerated make up and retro glam.